Proper funding needed to add computer science to Leaving Cert

The time and level of training required to introduce computer science as a Leaving Certificate subject next year needs significant investment if it is to be a realistic option for all students, a teachers union has warned.

Proper funding needed to add computer science to Leaving Cert

Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) education officer, David Duffy, said Education Minister Richard Bruton’s ambition to offer it as a subject choice to fifth-year students from September 2018 is achievable.

But, he said, while the curriculum itself can be designed and finalised relatively quickly, additional spending needs to be committed by the Department of Education to ensure teachers and schools are equipped to deliver the course.

“The department has the ability to make this happen in partnership with the profession, but an awful lot of training is needed if you’re upskilling existing teachers. You’re not talking about taking people out of school for a short course of five or six days,” Mr Duffy said.

His comments come after a report to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) this week said more detailed research is needed on the teacher professional development requirements.

It described the experience in several countries of introducing computer science at second-level or revising existing courses, including difficulties with the short two-year turnaround in New Zealand between a decision to introduce computer science and when it began to be taught.

Mr Bruton wants the NCCA to lead plans that will see an implementation plan in place by the end of the year to see computer science being taught in just over 18 months’ time. He announced earlier this month that he is bringing forward the timeframe for its introduction by a year from the previous target.

Richard Bruton
Richard Bruton

Mr Duffy said the question should be asked whether this can be done on an equitable basis, to ensure the subject is a choice regardless of where a student is going to school.

“The reality is that some schools have access to funds, through parents and local communities, that others don’t have for the required hardware and other materials,” Mr Duffy said.

“We also need to make sure that it isn’t a gendered subject, because the international evidence shows that computer science is taken up far less by girls,” he said.

Concerns about Mr Bruton’s timeframe are even stronger from the head of a college department which is interested in delivering whatever teacher training course is deemed necessary.

Padraig Kirwan, head of computing and maths at Waterford Institute of Technology, said he does not think 2018 is a realistic start date.

While the curriculum could be drawn up relatively quickly, he said, teachers in the new subject “would need to do a one-year full-time course or a two-year part-time course to be sufficiently skilled in computer science.”

WIT is already involved in delivery of upskilling courses for second-level maths teachers, which run for one to two years either full-time or part-time.

The college plans to devise a teacher-training course in computer science, and started offering coding lessons to local second-level students last year.

Consultations on making coding available in primary schools are to begin later this year.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Pile or group of multi colored and different sizes of colourful foil wrapped chocolate easter eggs in pink, blue, and gold. Larg Young sisters donate hundreds of Easter eggs to children's hospital
Ireland has third highest level of deaths on rural roads in EU  Ireland has third highest level of deaths on rural roads in EU 
Mother and daughters killed in Mayo crash named locally, as husband returns to Ireland 'Their smiles lit up the room': Tributes paid to mother and daughters killed in Mayo crash
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited